urbane
urbane
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "urbane" is:
/ɜːrˈbeɪn/
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
ur-:
/ɜːr/ - a long "er" sound, similar to the "er" in "bird" or "fur".
-bane:
/ˈbeɪn/ - a stressed syllable.
/b/ - the "b" sound.
/eɪ/ - the "ay" diphthong, as in "say" or "day".
/n/ - the "n" sound.
Word Form Variations
urbane (adjective):
This is the base form of the word, describing someone as refined, sophisticated, and polished in manner.
Comparative and superlative forms exist, although they are less common:
urbaner
urbanest
urbanely (adverb):
This form modifies verbs, describing how something is done in an urbane manner.
urbaneness (noun):
This form refers to the quality of being urbane.
urbanity (noun):
This is another noun form that also refers to the quality of being urbane.
unurbane(adjective):
This is the antonym of urbane. Meaning not urbane, lacking in sophistication.
unurbanely (adverb):
This is the adverb form of unurbane.
Therefore, the main variations you'll encounter are:
urbane (adjective)
urbanely (adverb)
urbaneness (noun)
urbanity (noun)
unurbane(adjective)
unurbanely (adverb)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
1. Urbane (Adjective)
Definition:
Possessing a refined and sophisticated manner, characterized by courteousness, polish, and a worldly understanding. It implies a sense of ease and grace in social situations, often stemming from broad experience.
Exhibiting cultivated taste and elegant expression.
Synonyms:
Sophisticated, polished, refined, suave, cultured, cosmopolitan, elegant, debonair, gracious, civil.
Antonyms:
Uncouth, boorish, gauche, rustic, provincial, awkward, clumsy, unsophisticated, inelegant.
Example sentence:
"The diplomat's urbane demeanor put even the most anxious guests at ease."
2. Urbanely (Adverb)
Definition:
In a refined and sophisticated manner, with courteousness and polish.
In a way that shows cultivated taste and elegant expression.
Synonyms:
Sophisticatedly, smoothly, gracefully, politely, courteously, elegantly.
Antonyms:
Awkwardly, clumsily, rudely, coarsely, inelegantly.
Example sentence:
"He handled the delicate situation urbanely, avoiding any offense."
3. Urbaneness/Urbanity (Noun)
Definition:
The quality of being refined and sophisticated, characterized by courteousness, polish, and worldly understanding.
The state of having cultivated taste and elegant expression.
Synonyms:
Sophistication, refinement, polish, suavity, culture, elegance, grace, civility.
Antonyms:
Crudeness, coarseness, awkwardness, rusticity, inelegance.
Example sentence:
"His urbanity was evident in his smooth conversation and impeccable manners."
4. Unurbane (Adjective)
Definition:
Lacking in refinement, sophistication, and courteousness.
The opposite of urbane.
Synonyms:
Crude, Coarse, rough, unrefined, unsophisticated.
Antonyms:
Urbane, sophisticated, refined.
Example sentence:
His unurbane behavior offended the other guest.
5. Unurbanely (Adverb)
Definition:
In a way that lacks refinement, sophistication, and courteousness.
Opposite of urbanely.
Synonyms:
Crudely, Coarsely, roughly.
Antonyms:
Urbanely, Sophisticatedly, refinedly.
Example sentence:
He acted unurbanely, and made a social faux pas.
Examples of Use
In Publications:
Newspapers & Magazines:
"The former president is urbane, polyglot and out of touch." (The Economist, 2018)
"Fry appeared on the screen, a tall, urbane man with a zigzag nose." (New York Times, 2021)
"The silhouettes were urbane, with an arts and crafts edge." (New York Times, 2018)
"He seemed an urbane and charming man." (Collins Corpus, from James Fergusson's "KANDAHAR COCKNEY: A Tale of Two Worlds")
Online Publications:
"The design is crisp and urbane..." (New York Times online)
"In the Boathouse, the snack bar offers the same mix of the down-home and urbane." (Sunset Magazine online)
In Entertainment:
The word is often used to describe characters in films and television shows, particularly those who are portrayed as sophisticated and worldly.
In literature, authors use "urbane" to depict characters with refined manners and a cultivated air.
General Public Discourse:
"Urbane" is frequently used in discussions about style, etiquette, and social behavior. For example, someone might describe a public figure or a social gathering as "urbane."
It can also be used in discussions about urban planning and design, to describe spaces that are considered sophisticated and well-designed.
Observations:
As seen from the examples, "urbane" is frequently used to describe people, but also can be used to describe styles, and designs.
The word is used in high level publications, showing that it is a word used in sophisticated context.
10 Famous Quotes Using Urbane
"An urbane manner is not the product of money, but of culture." — Ralph Waldo Emerson
"He was witty, urbane, and full of the graces that make conversation sparkle." — Oscar Wilde
"True urbane society consists not of wealth, but of mutual respect." — Samuel Johnson
"The urbane man is not he who flatters, but he who listens." — Voltaire
"Urbane civility is the oil that prevents the machinery of society from grinding to a halt." — Edmund Burke
"An urbane style does not conceal truth, it dignifies it." — Cicero (paraphrased from his writings on rhetoric)
"The urbane host offers not gold but charm to his guests." — Honoré de Balzac
"The urbane mind finds grace in small things." — Henry James
"Even revolutionaries must learn the urbane art of compromise." — Alexis de Tocqueville
"It is an urbane cruelty to laugh at the uncultured rather than teach them." — George Bernard Shaw
Etymology
Let's break down the history of "urbane" in a simple way:
Its Root: "urbs"
The word "urbane" comes from the Latin word "urbs," which means "city." Think of it as the core of the word.
Ancient Roman Connection:
In ancient Rome, people living in the city (urbs) were considered to be more refined and sophisticated than those living in the countryside. They had access to more education, culture, and social interaction.
So, the Latin word "urbanus" developed, meaning "belonging to the city" or "city-bred." It also carried the connotation of being "polished" or "refined."
From Latin to English:
The word "urbanus" made its way into English as "urbane" in the 16th century.
When it first appeared in English, "urbane" kept that original meaning of being refined, courteous, and sophisticated, qualities associated with city dwellers.
First Known Use and Meaning:
The earliest known uses of "urbane" in English were in the mid-1500s. It was used to describe people who possessed the polished manners and social graces that were thought to be characteristic of city life.
Essentially, it meant having the good manners and sophistication of a city person.
In essence, "urbane" tells a story of how city life, in the ancient world, was associated with refinement, and that association has stuck with the word to this day.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Urbane
"Urbane": it's a descriptive adjective, not a verb or noun that readily lends itself to common idioms and phrases. Therefore, you won't find a wealth of widely used idioms that feature "urbane" directly.
Here's why and what we can do:
Why it's rare:
"Urbane" describes a quality. Idioms tend to be built around actions or concrete objects.
The word itself is somewhat formal, so it doesn't often appear in casual, everyday speech where idioms flourish.
However, we can explore related phrases and idioms that convey the same sense of refinement and sophistication.
Instead of direct idioms, we can focus on phrases that commonly use the word:
"an urbane gentleman/lady"
"urbane wit"
"urbane style"
"an urbane manner"
"urbane conversation"
"an urbane atmosphere"
Idioms with Synonyms/Related Concepts:
To capture the spirit of "urbane," we can look at idioms that express similar qualities:
"to have savoir-faire" (French for "knowing how to do," meaning to have social grace and tact).
"to be a smooth operator" (to be skilled at handling social situations with charm and ease).
"to have polished manners" (to be refined and courteous).
"to know the ropes" (to be familiar with the customs and procedures of a particular social setting).
"to be a man/woman of the world" (to be experienced and sophisticated).
"to cut a fine figure" (to make an elegant or impressive appearance).
"to have the gift of gab" (to be a fluent and persuasive speaker, often with a touch of charm).
Original Phrases:
"to wear urbanity like a tailored suit" (meaning to display urbane qualities effortlessly).
"to navigate the social currents with urbane ease" (meaning to handle social situations smoothly).
"to lend an urbane touch" (meaning to add a sense of sophistication).
While "urbane" itself doesn't generate many idioms, we can effectively convey its meaning through related phrases and idioms that emphasize refinement, social grace, and sophistication.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of urbane from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
